OPC Menace Made Us Recruit Buhari into Politics

By Wilson Macaulay

Abuja, Nigeria – July 27, 2025

In a stunning disclosure that throws new light on Nigeria’s post-military political evolution, elder statesman and political heavyweight Alhaji Buba Galadima has publicly confessed that General Muhammadu Buhari was lured into partisan politics not by personal desire, but out of a perceived regional necessity — triggered by the violent activities of the Odua People's Congress (OPC) in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Galadima, a former close ally of Buhari and founding member of several opposition coalitions, made the explosive statement during a recent interview aired on national television, causing ripples in political and civil society circles.

> “Some of us who recruited Buhari had a mission. And I will reveal that mission today,” Galadima said.

“General Buhari came into politics. It was not his province. He never liked politicians because he believed we are fake and that we do not mean what we say. But there was an incident that made some of us recruit him — even though we had our own agenda.”

According to Galadima, the flashpoint that triggered the move was the OPC’s growing influence and violent campaigns, particularly in the South-West. He recounted a chilling moment when the militant group reportedly mobilized over 500 vehicles to invade Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State, with the intention of “uprooting the Fulani.”

A Nation on Edge

During that turbulent period between 1999 and 2000, the OPC, founded to defend Yoruba interests, had morphed from a cultural movement into a militant force — engaging in violent clashes, extra-judicial killings, and acts that destabilized parts of the South-West. The group’s operations, Galadima revealed, stoked deep fear in Northern Nigeria.

> “We felt we needed a strong and incorruptible face to rally the North and push back against what we perceived as regional intimidation,” Galadima continued.

“Buhari was that face. We used his military background and perceived integrity to build political resistance.

Democracy Without Democratic Ethics?

Galadima’s statement also underscores a deeper rot in Nigeria’s democratic system. Despite over two decades of civilian rule, the nation's electoral credibility remains in doubt.

> “Since 1992, no election in Nigeria has truly been declared free and fair — yet leaders continue to emerge,” said political analyst Dr. Hadiza Yusuf.

“Galadima’s revelation shows that even our democratic leadership recruitment has been manipulated by regional fear and ethnic tensions, not by ideology or public service.”

Buhari’s Reluctant Rise

It is no secret that Buhari initially showed little interest in politics. A retired military general, former military Head of State (1983–1985), and known disciplinarian, Buhari once distanced himself from political maneuvering. His disdain for the civilian political class was well documented.

Yet, by 2003, he was on the ballot. By 2015, he had unseated an incumbent president — an unprecedented feat in Nigerian history. And by 2023, after two terms in office, he had left a legacy that remains hotly debated.

Questions That Must Be Answered

Galadima’s confession raises urgent questions:

Were Nigerians truly given a choice in their leadership?

How many other leaders were installed out of fear or regional calculation?

And can Nigeria ever experience true democracy without addressing the deep-rooted ethnic, regional, and ideological divides?

The Verdict of History

As Nigeria continues to battle insecurity, economic hardship, and distrust in political institutions, revelations like Galadima’s serve as a sobering reminder of the shadows behind the spotlight of democracy.

If indeed a former head of state was “recruited” into democracy to counter a militant group — not to serve the people — then the task before the next generation of leaders and citizens is clear: reclaim Nigeria’s democracy from the puppeteers of the past.